Chapter 30 seems to be savoring the touch from just now...
Night fell, and the sound of flowing water tinkled.
The tranquil hot spring was dimly lit. As the man rose, the drifting water suddenly rose and lapped against the dry banks. The dappled light and shadow fell on the man's well-defined back, highlighting the faint outline of his body.
Fu Huaiqing put on his coat and descended the steps.
Jiang Yue, who was guarding the entrance to the hot spring, took a step and followed him away.
After leaving Qing Shi Zhai, Bie Zhi returned to the Qin family. She sent Hua Chao to rest and then went to the main courtyard alone. After informing Madam Qin through Zhang Mama, she left through a side gate and headed to the Prince's Mansion.
It took nearly half an hour to go back and forth.
Upon arriving at the gates of the Prince's Palace, she was greeted by the same guards as the night before.
Cheng Jin led her to the outer courtyard of the calligraphy hall, pushed open the door, and turned around to say, "Please come in and wait a moment, young lady."
Bie Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
She stood outside the door, her gaze sweeping across the visible parts of the study. Although she couldn't see the desk, it didn't detract from the study's decor as she remembered it. The writing implements were everywhere on the desk, showing signs of frequent use. This was clearly the study that Prince Su usually used, not a place for casually entertaining guests.
But he allowed himself to wait in the study when it was empty...
There must be something fishy going on!
Bie Zhi's expression shifted slightly. She stopped under the eaves, her eyes seemingly fixed on the man's expression, and said, "The study is an important place. I'd better wait outside."
Cheng Jin noticed the girl's scrutiny and turned to show her the stone table behind the rockery. He was also surprised to find that Prince Yu really understood Biezhi. He had determined from the beginning that she would not be willing to go inside to wait, and had arranged for servants to prepare tea and snacks in the courtyard well in advance.
On the polished table, wisps of steam rose from the teacups, and several pastries were placed in the center.
In an instant, Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief.
really--
You bastard!
They sent her over to give a reply, and even tricked her. If she had really walked into the study without any precautions, she might already be in a mass grave, dead and without a burial place.
How could someone have such a handsome face, yet have such a dark and wicked heart?
A glimpse of the tea and pastries on the table brought Biezhi to an abrupt halt as she stopped muttering to herself. She frowned as she looked at the tempting pastries, three of which were to her liking and were not the kind of delicate pastries that would be served in the homes of ordinary officials and nobles.
She stared at the pastries in silence, not sitting down for a long time.
This place is entirely tiger's den.
Whether it was the deliberate probing just now or the pastries that suited her taste, it was enough to prove that she was completely transparent in Prince Su's eyes.
Biezhi knew he would investigate her, but she never expected him to be so direct, clearly trying to warn her and dispel any unnecessary thoughts.
What exactly does Prince Su want to do?
A question couldn't help but arise in her mind.
Biezhi did not sit down, but stood by the table waiting. However, she waited for almost half a cup of tea's time, but Prince Su did not arrive.
She glanced at the guard ten paces away, his palm encircling the hilt of his sword, and sighed.
After waiting for a while, I finally heard faint footsteps.
When Biezhi, who had already lost her temper, raised her eyes and saw the tall figure coming along the corridor, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
Prince Su's appearance seems even more striking than usual today...
The bright moonlight poured down generously, and the light and shadow swayed with the man's figure. The golden threads beneath his dark robes were faintly visible, making him appear even more otherworldly.
Biezhi was a little stunned. She suddenly came back to her senses when she heard the sound of the guard's sword hilt trembling slightly. She realized that she had gone too far and dared to be disrespectful to Prince Su.
If anyone's to blame, it's him for being unusually handsome today, as if he'd deliberately dressed up. It's obvious he was intentionally trying to seduce her. What's wrong with taking a few more glances? His eyes are on her body; he can look at her however he wants.
Thinking this, Biezhi secretly lifted her drooping eyelids.
She should have looked away, for the moment she raised her eyes she met the depths of the man's unfathomable pupils. She quickly lowered her head, cupped her hands, and said, "Biezhi greets Your Highness."
Fu Huaiqing remained silent, his gaze fixed on her for a moment, then glanced at the untouched tea and pastries on the table, a hint of helplessness flashing across his expression.
With her head bowed, she watched as the long shadow of the man, illuminated by the bright night, drew closer. The moment the man's well-defined knuckles pressed against her fist, she paused, then looked up at him, slightly dazed, and met his gaze.
Fu Huaiqing lowered his fingers, his fingertips casually stroking at his sides.
It seemed as if they were savoring the moment they had just touched.
Biezhi stared blankly at the man's back as he walked towards the table, feeling increasingly suspicious. She couldn't figure out what Prince Su's intentions were. Could it be that she had just passed his test, and this was a reward for passing the test?
Fu Huaiqing tapped his knuckles on the table and slightly raised his chin, gesturing for her to sit down.
After a moment of silence, Biezhi walked to the opposite side of him, cupped his hands and said, "My master has instructed me today that I will deliver the messages to the Prince's residence on time for the next two and a half months."
Fu Huaiqing looked at the girl standing firmly in front of him and nodded.
The medicinal effects of the tea he drank last night had not lasted for twelve hours, so there was no point in using it again. Therefore, he would never speak, and as she wished, he would remain mute.
“If you wish to visit the Prince’s residence in the future,” Jiang Yue, who was standing behind him, spoke up at the right moment, slightly raising his palm in the direction of Cheng Jin, and said, “Just inform Cheng Jin half an hour in advance, and he will report back to the Prince immediately.”
Biezhi turned around following his movement, glanced at Cheng Jin, raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and nodded in acknowledgment.
Cheng Jin had followed Bie Zhi many times before, but this was the first time he had a proper meeting with her. When he met the smile in the girl's almond-shaped eyes, he returned a slight smile. Before the smile could reach his eyes, a cold wind suddenly swept past behind him, making him subconsciously straighten his back.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prince's thin lips tighten into a straight line. In an instant, he suppressed the half-raised corner of his mouth, put on a stern face, nodded to Biezhi, and looked away into the distance without glancing to the side.
Biezhi, who had noticed the change in Cheng Jin's expression, remained silent.
Everyone in the Prince Su's mansion is an eccentric, from top to bottom, their moods are unpredictable...
It's best to avoid this place.
She turned to look at Prince Su; the source of everything was here.
Facing the gleam in the girl's almond-shaped eyes, Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow. He couldn't tell who had done what to her. She seemed no different from usual, but he could tell that if the person standing in front of her was Ji Ran, Bie Zhi would definitely be sulking, pouting and muttering.
Biezhi waited for a long time, but did not receive any further instructions.
As night fell, she spoke softly, "It's getting late. If Your Highness has nothing else to attend to, I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Upon hearing this, Fu Huaiqing glanced at the bright moon hanging on the branch.
He gazed silently at the girl's slightly tense expression for a moment, then nodded without forcing her to stay.
Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his hands in greeting, and turned to leave.
Cheng Jin followed.
Watching the two figures walk away, one after the other, until they disappeared into the courtyard of the study, Jiang Yue withdrew his gaze. He glanced down at the prince's thoughtful expression, pondered for a moment, and tentatively asked, "The situation is becoming increasingly tense. Perhaps we should send more men to Miss Biezhi—"
As he spoke, he met the prince's indistinct gaze and stopped talking.
A few days ago, when Jiang Yue realized that the prince had feelings for Biezhi, he found some popular novels in the capital and read them to catch up. Perhaps because he read too many, he was inevitably influenced by the content of the novels, to the point that he forgot that the prince's decisions had never changed for anyone.
Fu Huaiqing's eyes were deep and his fingers tapped the table absently.
The occasional, erratic tapping sounds were like a ferocious beast lurking in the dark jungle, making one instinctively slow down their breathing.
The city is crowded and full of people; the more people there are, the easier it is to be exposed to the world.
"Have someone keep a close watch on Xianyun Tower." Fu Huaiqing stood up and said coldly, "If there is any unusual activity, order them to be shot."
Jiang Yuelin accepted the order.
When Biezhi reached the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, she belatedly realized that Prince Su was completely mute today, not uttering a single word.
Sure enough, he's better off remaining mute.
When you're mute, not only do you have a handsome appearance, but the harshness of the surroundings also diminishes.
Before leaving the palace, Biezhi couldn't help but turn back and ask Cheng Jin, "Your prince's voice has always been the same?"
Perhaps she ate something wrong a few days ago, or maybe she was seriously ill, which caused her voice to sound so awful last night. It was so awful that she became numb and didn't want to hear it a second time.
"Huh?" Cheng Jin asked in confusion, "What?"
After thinking for a moment, Biezhi said tactfully, "Has it always been so unique?"
Cheng Jin paused.
What constitutes a distinctive voice? Is it considered distinctive if it's not as warm as Lord Su's or Lord Qin's? If so, he nodded: "Your Highness's voice has always been like this."
Biezhi was completely heartbroken.
She sighed, "In that case, we have no choice but to accept our fate."
Biezhi waved goodbye to Cheng Jin and left the palace.
As Cheng Jin watched the girl leave, he was about to return to his study to report when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure walking briskly towards him. He frowned and stepped forward.
Upon hearing the news, the guards who rushed over whispered something in Cheng Jin's ear. As he listened, Cheng Jin's eyes widened slightly. He looked at the man and frowned: "Really?"
The guard nodded: "Absolutely true."
Cheng Jin's expression hardened, and he said, "I will go and report to the Prince right away. You all keep an eye on things and offer assistance if necessary."
He walked a little faster than usual, covering a distance of over a hundred steps in no time, and arrived at the study. Cheng Jin knocked on the study door three times, and upon hearing his master's voice from inside, he pushed the door open and entered, saying, "Your Highness, two messages have arrived from Xianyun Tower."
Fu Huaiqing didn't raise his eyes, slowly examining the contents of the memorial: "What is it?"
"Firstly, Jing Qing was seriously injured tonight, seemingly from a sword wound," Cheng Jin reported, also feeling puzzled. "Although his close-combat skills are not as good as the assassins in Qingyin Pavilion, and he usually avoids close combat, I don't know why he would suddenly take such a risk today."
“Let them investigate,” Fu Huaiqing said, picking up his pen and writing a comment on the memorial in red ink. Without looking up, he asked, “What is the other piece of news?”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Jin glanced at Jiang Yue, who looked back at him, puzzled.
He pursed his lips and said, "The guards reported that today, Miss Biezhi approached Ling Feng and proposed to marry Jiran."
For a moment, the brushstrokes on the memorial froze, and the ink stains spread out into clumps. Fu Huaiqing raised his eyes, as if he had heard something out of a fantasy: "With whom?"
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